Newcastle 1 Sunderland 1: Fall-guy Taylor denies Sbragia

Honours even in a full-blooded, billion miles an hour Tyne- Wear derby but now local hostilities are out of the way, the serious business of Barclays Premier League survival begins.

For Joe Kinnear's Newcastle, a run of home games looms against Everton, Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea. He says he wants 16 more points, but it is hard to see any coming from those fixtures. Sunderland host Stoke City on Saturday, followed by Wigan.

All square: Shola Ameobi scores from the penalty spot

As they prepare to enter the final straight, the two north-east rivals are still separated by only three points after Ricky Sbragia's side blew their chance of the first Tyne- Wear double in 42 years.

Like their apparently reclusive owner Mike Ashley, Newcastle turned up late yesterday. When they did make an appearance, it was worth the wait as they earned a point.

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Sunderland took a deserved firsthalf lead when Djibril Cisse beat the offside trap and home protests to power past Steve Harper and score, although only after the Newcastle goalkeeper had made a brave save at his feet and agonisingly watched the rebound bounce favourably into Cisse's path.

But if the French striker was fortunate in the build-up to his 10th goal of the season - which he tapped into an empty net - that was nothing compared to Newcastle, who required generous refereeing from Howard Webb.

Taking a tumble: Taylor hits the deck as he tussles with Malbranque, allowing Ameobi to equalise from the spot for Newcastle

Steven Taylor, a man with a history of touching the turf with ease when required, fell in a heap with Steed Malbranque as he galloped down the Newcastle right.

'It looked a soft penalty to me,' said Sbragia. 'I don't think he even touched a player, but seemed to stub the ground. But the referee gave it and we have to abide by it.' Kinnear naturally disagreed, calling it a 'clear penalty'.

It was a pity Webb spoiled an excellent performance by getting his most crucial decision wrong but Shola Ameobi, forced to play by Kinnear despite failing his morning fitness test, had no complaints as he sent Marton Fulop the wrong way with an emphatic finish into the top corner.

'He was still feeling his ankle,' said Kinnear. 'But we told him to play.'

Sunderland defender Danny Collins did not go as far as calling Taylor a cheat, but he was unhappy.

The Wales defender said: 'It was a terrible decision. Steed sort of stumbled over himself, Stevie Taylor has gone on another yard and fell over. The linesman is on that side and that is where he needs to help the ref out. He didn't actually flag - I think he radioed it to the ref and said it's a penalty.'

Red hot: Djibril Cisse scores the opener for Sunderland

It was end-to-end stuff and absorbing throughout. Sunderland midfielder Kieran Richardson hit the post with a free-kick and Andy Carroll responded within minutes with a header against the bar.

Kevin Nolan cleared a Kenwyne Jones effort off the line and George McCartney had to do the same under the Sunderland bar when Fulop misjudged a rare Jonas Gutierrez cross hit with accuracy.

Before Taylor won his spot-kick Damien Duff fell for one when he was clipped by Phil Bardsley, but he was booked for diving by Webb.

Cisse dance: The Frenchman celebrates his goal

When Richardson had a free-kick in the range which won the October game on Wearside, he almost reached the Sunderland supporters high up in the second tier.

Andy Reid, Jones, Ameobi and Taylor were all denied from close range and Kinnear said he was mystified by Webb's decision to disallow a Carroll tap-in, although a linesman had spotted Duff's handball early in the build-up.

Reid, meanwhile, will still be asking how his half-volley in added time managed to miss the target with Harper rooted to the spot.

Even more mysterious was the role former Newcastle striker Michael Chopra played in Sunderland's best chance of a breathless first half when he was through on goal four minutes from the break after stealing the ball from Fabricio Coloccini in a 50-50 aerial challenge.

With the freedom of St James' and only Harper to beat, Chopra took the unusual decision to cross rather than shoot, only to over-hit the ball aimed for Jones. It was a moment when Chopra could have scored his first goal at St James' and ensured Sunderland hero status for life. But perhaps that was the problem. It was also a moment to preserve his Newcastle reputation and the windows of his home.

With the derby out of the way, Sbragia and Kinnear disappeared for 24 hours of transfer dealings. Newcastle still hope to sign Toulouse defender Albin Ebondo and have secured Ryan Taylor from Wigan. On top of the £7million Steve Bruce has paid for Charles N'Zogbia, Shay Given completed his £7m move to Manchester City after signing a four-year deal.

Sunderland hope to unveil Israel international Tal Ben Haim today after missing out, like Newcastle, on Liverpool's Sami Hyypia, while Chopra could be on his way back to Cardiff City in a permanent deal. They may also be interested in Darren Bent, depending on events at Tottenham.